Free smoke alarms given to Cambridgeshire landlords

Nearly 2,000 free smoke and carbon monoxide alarms have been distributed to landlords of privately rented properties in Cambridgeshire to keep tenants safe.

The Alarms 4 Life campaign, led by the Government to help landlords gear up for new regulations, has seen Cambridgeshire Fire and Rescue Service run a series of distribution events to give away free alarms.

The penultimate event will take place on Monday, September 7, at fire stations across the county and fire officers are urging landlords of privately rented properties to attend and collect their free alarms.

Station Commander Mick Jackman, CFRS Community Fire Safety Team, said: “New safety laws coming into play very soon (October) will make it compulsory for all landlords to fit smoke alarms on each floor of a rented home.

“We are keen to work with local landlords to improve the safety of tenants across our area and we have already given away about 1,000 smoke and carbon monoxide alarms through the distribution events. We have also worked with letting agencies to hand out another 1,000 alarms.

“Anyone who needs to take action to comply with the new regulations should pop along to our next distribution event on Monday, September 7. A full list of distribution event times and locations can be found on our website.”

Under the new laws, smoke alarms must be fitted on every floor of the property as well as carbon monoxide alarms in properties which burn solid fuels. Landlords must check the alarms are working at the start of every new tenancy with potential penalties of up to £5,000 if they don’t comply.

To help landlords prepare for the new regulations the Government has provided CFRS with a limited number of free smoke and carbon monoxide alarms to give out to relevant landlords.